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Australia faces India at the Gabba on Monday (3pm AEDT) for a final proper hit-out before starting its T20 World Cup campaign on Saturday.
The hosts head into the match having failed to register a win in its most recent three matches, all against England, and is also feeling the effects of fatigue.
Aaron Finch said after the third T20 that Australia was feeling tired after a busy build-up since late August that has included white ball series against Zimbabwe, New Zealand, India, West Indies and England.
MATCH CENTRE: Australia vs India warm-up match, live scoreboard
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“I think the guys are probably a little bit tired at the moment,” Finch said.
“The schedule has been so packed over the last six to eight weeks that we identified a couple of months ago that we wanted to make sure that we’re in a position to be peaking at the right time of the World Cup and not beforehand.
“So it’s going to be important over the next couple of days to try and freshen everyone up as much as we can.”
But there hasn’t been much time to do that.
That last match wrapped up on Friday night, leaving just a weekend for Australia’s World Cup defenders to freshen up and go again.
There is the possibility for some names to be rested against India — although it is something of a Catch-22.
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The same players who may need rest are the same as those that selectors will want in action for a proper World Cup dress rehearsal before playing New Zealand in Sydney on Saturday.
For example, Glenn Maxwell has played all but one of Australia’s 14 matches since August 28, but is also only averaging 10.54 in that period.
Finch has played all 14 and is only averaging 13.50. Both would ideally have some confidence-boosting runs under their belt heading into the World Cup.
Australia must now take a risk either way: Fatigue some of its best XI further, or enter the tournament with some batters still out of form.
Meanwhile, India will be looking to finalise its own plans having been dealt massive injury blows in the tournament build-up.
Without Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah, India will hope it still has enough firepower with both bat and ball to win the tournament for the first time since 2007.
HOW TO WATCH
Australia and India’s warm-up T20 at the Gabba will be shown live on Fox Cricket 501 and Kayo. Start your free trial now >
TEAMS
Australia XI: TBC
India XI: TBC
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